Maternity Allowance advice needed

[Mel1975]

I am trying to find out if I qualify for any maternity allowance,I am not currently working after being made redundant in September 2009. I had my first baby in Sept 2008 and received SMP up untilJune 2009, was due to go back to work in August 2009 but was made redundant. I did start looking for work again in te new year but found out I was pregnant again so thought it would be unfair to start a new role. I am currently 18 weeks pregnant.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Need some dates to give you a definite answer - ie your due date and the date of your redundancy.

Whether you're entitled to any MA depends on whether you were employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the week before your due date, and whether you were earning at least £30 per week for 13 of those. Until the actual day your employment stopped, whether or not you were still getting SMP, you can count as employed. Your SMP would count as earning more than £30 for 13 weeks.

My very rough calculation based on that would suggest that probably you won't be able to get MA unfortunately because I think June 2009 when you stopped receiving any money(ie 52 weeks ago) will be out of the 66 week period in 22 weeks time, but you need to work it out. And anyway it's worth filling the form in because Jobcentre Plus should then consider whether you are entitled to Employment and Support Allowance for a bit instead (which is better than nothing).